New school for Blantyre

A new school designed to cater for pupils with social and behavioural needs is currently taking shape in Blantyre.

The as yet unnamed school is being constructed on the site of the former Calder House Social Work facility in Bardykes Road. Once work is complete on the project the school will provide education for up to 60 secondary school pupils from across South Lanarkshire, whilst a separate ‘cottage’ provision will offer more intensive support.

Work began on the South Lanarkshire Council project in August 2012. Prior to the construction work taking place a demolition phase was conducted in order to remove the existing Calder house building which was located on the site.

The brand new facility has been designed to accommodate the specific educational needs of the pupils and will include six general classrooms, a home economics classroom, a science classroom, an IT classroom, a technical craft classroom and a hair and beauty classroom.

Additional facilities include changing/shower facilities, a dining room, a fitness suite and a floodlit 3G all-weather five-a-side pitch, which will be used by both the school and the local community.

The three-storey building is being constructed using a portakabin structural shell on pad foundations, with curtain walling, facing brick and a standing seam roof. Internally work on the building will include the installation of plasterboard partitions, vinyl flooring, carpets, and general joinery works and decoration.

The construction of the new school is being implemented to restructure Social Emotional Behavioural Needs (SEBN) school provisions in the local area. The decision to build the development was made following extensive public consultation to determine what was best for the area.

The result of the new school’s creation will see existing education provisions at Kittock Ridgepark Schools (East Kilbride and Lanark) discontinued. Meanwhile, four area bases will remain in place in Cathkin High, Hamilton Grammar, Lesmahagow High, St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School.

Kier Scotland is the main contractor on the project, whilst RMJM Ltd is providing architectural services on the site. Throughout the construction phase Kier is keeping the local community updated on the development’s progress and in September the company held an open forum to raise any issues regarding the works.

Eddie McAvoy, Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, said:

“This proposal mirrors the Council’s commitment to making sure all children can learn and develop in modern environments which are fit for purpose.”

Work on the new state-of-the-art building is currently on schedule, with pupils transferring to the school in summer 2013.